Unemployed for 8 months!

Susan writes:

I have been through two jobs in just one year. The first I quit because I did not receive the hours they'd promised to me. The other I was fired for data entry "errors" which actually may have been made by lenders going back into the system changing numbers I had endorsed. Problem is, with such short periods of work in addition to a termination, I feel it is working against me securing new employment. And I don't know what answer to give when asked why I left my last job. Please, please help with any answers you might have. I have been out of work for 8 months now and my dole won't last forever!

Ria says:

You seem to have a case of the 'nothing is ever my fault's. Let's face facts: you quit your first job because they wanted you to work longer hours, not shorter. If it were the other way around you would have had a case for going to tribunal. Your second job fired you because you made mistakes. Yes, these 'could' have been made by the lenders, but if you think in the era of technology these things aren't easily verifiable you shouldn't be working anywhere near a computer, let alone data of any importance. You're only unemployed because you're unemployable. Lower your standards and try applying to a supermarket or DIY store, I know your track record isn't great, but they seem have a soft-spot for people like you.

Steve says:

I think you're right. Having to work hours that suit your employer is not what the Human Rights act is for. And I think the most likely reason for the wrong data being input is that other people went to the effort of messing it up after you saved it. The odds of someone who doesn't really want the job messing the data up are slim to none.

In the olden days people would only have one or two jobs in their entire career. You have already done that, so you should be able to retire now. Sit back, apply for whatever benefits you could get and if that's not enough, think about getting pregnant. Don't worry, I'm not being sexist there. I'd give the same advice to a man, but I wouldn't say pregnancy, I'd have to say prison.